The e-petition asking the Prime Minister to "Posthumously award Bob Paisley
a knighthood" has now closed. This is a response from the Prime Minister,
Tony Blair.
Bob Paisley's achievements in football were remarkable. It is easy to see
why so many people want to see his record formally recognised.
This has been underlined by the thousands of people who have signed the
e-petition on the No 10 website calling for him to be granted a posthumous
knighthood.
But this is simply not possible. A knighthood is an honour only given
during someone's lifetime. Unlike bravery awards and medals, they have
never been granted posthumously.
Formally, this is because the recipients of knighthoods are admitted into a
particular Order when they attend an Investiture ceremony in person.
In practical terms, however, it would also be impossible to decide which of
thousands of figures in our country's history, who were not knighted during
their lifetimes, should retrospectively deserve such recognition.
For example, there are already similar e-petition campaigns for posthumous
knighthoods for football managers Bill Shankley, Brian Clough, Jock Stein
and Bill Nicholson.
But strong cases could also be made for many other high-achieving sports
figures as well as authors, scientists and others who were not knighted
during their lifetimes. Charles Darwin, Captain Cook, RJ Mitchell, who
created the Spitfire, John Lennon and even William Shakespeare are just a
few of those who were not honoured in this way while they lived.
The fact they were not knighted, however, does not in any way detract from
the contribution they made to this country. Their lives and achievements
have each been celebrated and remembered in many other ways. But a
knighthood is, however, not possible for someone, no matter how
accomplished, who is no longer able to receive it.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Blair
